Tank light apparatus



Sept. 12,1933. R JR 1,926,945

TANK LIGHT APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l wil- j 2 VI III IIIIII Sept. 12,- 1933. R. HIPP, JR

TANK LIGHT APPARATUS.

Filed Aug. 29, 1931 2 Shets-Sheet 2 iii/l l l ll E ,5

Patented Sept. 12, 1 933 1 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,926,945 TANKmm APPARATUS Richard Hipp, In, Pomaria, S. 0. Application August 29,1931. Serial No. 560,170

'1 Claims. (01. 240-245) This invention relates to attachmentsforvetubeis fitted into this metal tube to exclude hicles in general. Moreparticularlythis inventhe' fuel from the inside of this latter tube,"and tion relates to apparatus for illuminating the an incandescent lampis mounted inside of the inside of fuel tanks for vehicles, such asautoglass tube. In practice, it may be desirable to mobiles, which arepropelled by internal comomit this glass tube and mount the lamp insidebustion engines. 1 -of the metal tube, leaving the liquid fuel to Anobject of this invention is to provide an come directly in contact withthe lamp. arrangement for illuminating the inside of an Connections areprovided between the lamp internal combustion engine fuel tank; which isand a source of current supply, such as a storage connected for usesimultaneously as the tank battery, generator and the like. A switch isalso is opened for filling. provided for either connecting ordisconnecting Another object of this invention is to provide the lampfrom circuit. This switch is arranged apparatus for illuminating ascalewitliin the fuel to be operated to close the lamp circuit simultankof an internal combustion engine which is taneously as the tank closureis opened and to positionedadjacent to the filling opening of theinterrupt the lamp circuit as the tank is closed. tank so that the scalemay be viewed there- In this way the scale of the tube positionedinthrough. side of the fuel tank is illuminated for view when Stillanother object of'this invention is to the tank closure is open orremoved. The volume provide a tube with a scale thereon adapted to ofthe contents of the tank may be read direct 20 be illuminated by a lamptherein, inside of the from the scale through the filling opening.

fuel tank of an intemal combustion engine ad- In a modified form of thisinvention the lamp jacent to the filling opening of the tank, thecircuit is opened or closed by a switch which is circuit of the lampbeing arranged so that the operated as a door of the vehicle is openedor lamp is energized simultaneously as the tank is closed. 'Anarrangement such as this is more 25 opened and de-energized as it isclosed. readily adaptable to motor vehicles already in A further objectof this invention is to provide existence which are not provided with afuel the fuel tank of an internal combustion engine tank having afilling opening cap to which a with a tubularmember depending from theswitch-operating mechanism may be relatively upper wall of the tank froma surface adjacent easily attached. to the fillingopening, the tubularmember hav- This invention will be more fully and easily un- 8 ing ascale bearing portion thereof extruded derstood from the accompanyingdrawings in outwardly in such a way that this portion may which, beviewed from,the outside'of the tank through Fig. 1 is a plan view infragmentary section of the filling opening. a form of this invention; 35Still -a further object of this invention is to Fig. 2 is a horizontalsectional view taken provide an arrangement inside of the fuel tankalong the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; of an internal combustion engine forilluminating Fig. 3 is a modified form of lamp socket and a scale whichindicates the fuel content-of the switch embodied in this invention;tank, in which the operation of the illumination Fig. 4 illustrates adoor-operated switch; device is remotely controlled. Figs. 5 and 6illustrate another form of tank Other objects and features of thisinvention cap retaining mechanism embodied in this invenwill be apparentfrom the following specification tion; and and the appended claims. Fig.'7 is a diagram of connections.

In accordance with this invention a small tube. Reference numeral 1 ofFig. 1 is a wall of the of metal,'or other material which does notdefuel tank, such as is carried by internal comteriorate while incontact with gasoline, benzene, bustion engine propelled vehicles. .Afiller stem alcohol, or other chemical compounds used as 3 is attachedto the wall 1 o'f'the fuel tank in the fuel in internal combustion"engines, is posifillingopening of the tank. Bracing section 311' 50tioned inside of the fuel tank of an internal of stem 3 is provided toextend into the tank.

combustion engine, preferably adjacent to the A cap 5, having a flange 6and a gripper member filling opening of the tank. 'A longitudinal sec- 7for engaging the projecting members 4, is protion of this tube isextruded from the tube and vided to the filler stem.

a scale, which indicates the fuel content of the This gripper member '7is attached to the untank at different levels, is imprinted into or onder surface of the central portion of the cap,5, 55 the surface of thislongitudinal section. A glass either by spot welding. a small rivet, ormany other convenient manner well known in the art. A knurled ring 8 isprovided to the cap integral therewith to facilitate the removal of thecap, when desired. A small tubular member 9 having a section 10 thereofextruded therefrom is positioned adjacent to the filler stem 3.

The tubular member 9 is attached to the upper wall of the tank, as isthe filler stem 3, and projects upward out of the tank on a side of theFiller stem. This member 9 is a casting made integral with the fillerstem and braced thereto by the members 3a and 3b, or it may be a smallmetal tube made of iron, copper, brass or similar material made entirelyseparately from the filler stem. In case it is made separate from thefiller stem, its upper section is provided with a flange and threaded toreceive a nut so that it may be inserted into a hole formed into theupper wall of the fuel tank and retained in place by the cooperativeaction of the flange and nut. This tubular member 9 is also made ofphenol condensation or similar products which resist the solvent actionof gasoline, alcohol and other internal combustion engine fuels.

A gauge for indicating the volume of the contents of the tank isprinted, embossed or en.'

graved upon the extruded section 10 in such a way that when illuminatedit may be seen through the filler opening. The tubular member 9 may bepositioned at an angle with respect to the tank wall 1, or it may bedisposed in a true vertical position. In each case, however, the scaleof section 10 is adjusted to give the correct volume indication for theposition chosen.

A tube 11, of glass, fused quartz, or borosilicate compounds, is fittedinto the tubular member 9. This glass tube is preferablysealed at itslower end to prevent liquid from the tank from entering it. Where it isdesired the scale of the extruded section 10 may be placed upon thesurface of the glass tube 11 instead of the section 10 in any of theknown methods of registering indicia upon glass, such as etching,abrading, grinding or molding while casting or working the glass. It is,of course, understood that the tube 11 may be made solid at the lowerend or curved slightly to reflect the light from the lamp 19 to thescale.

A block 12, carrying a lamp socket 13 and switch 14, is positioned intothe glass tube 11.

The switch 15 is closed by the rod 14, which is held under tension bythe spring 16, when the cover 5 is removed from the filler stem, and thepressure exerted by the flange 6 upon the cupshaped cap 17 is released.A small upright tube 18 is provided to block 12 to prevent gasoline orother liquids spilled over the edge of the filler stem from flowingaround the rod 14 into the compartment of the switch 15. The rod 14 andblock 12 may be made of phenol condensation products, syntheticporcelain, insulating compositions or similar suitable materials.

The lamp 19 is preferably a small substantially spherical-shar d bulbtype used in three to four volt circui i may be of the elongated typedesigned to operate in a six volt circuit. Connection A is provided tothe contact positionedv adjacent to the movable switch contact 15. Thecircuit between the contact 15 and the central contact of the lampso'cket 13 is completed through the spring 16. A connection is alsoprovided between the return or ground circuit and the threaded contactsection of the socket 13.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, the arrangement of the various parts withinthe tube 9 is more clearly illustrated.

A modified form of the switch embodied in the invention is illustratedin Fig. 3 of Jane drawings. This switch-is made essentially ofa block12a, of insulating material, a movable contact 15a, a spring 16a, and asocket 13a. This switch differs from the switch illustrated in Fig. 1 inthat an additional connection 20 is provided between the central contactof the socket for the purpose of permitting a remotely controlled switchto be connected to the lamp 19a.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings a switch having a casing 26, adapted to bemounted in the sill of an automobile door in such a way that the plate2'7 is flush with the outside of the sill, is illustrated. A spring 28is positioned inside of the housing 26 in engagement with the contact29, which is carried by the rod 32. The rod 32 and housing 26 arepreferably of insulating material. A pair of contacts 30 and 31 arepositioned inside of the case 26. The door of the automobile when closedpresses the rod inwardly into the case 26 and thus maintains the circuitbetween contacts 30 and 31 open. When the door is opened the spring 28presses the contact 29 into engagement with the contacts 30 and 31 andcloses the circuit.

The switch illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings is preferably connectedinto circuit as switch 24 (Fig. '7) across the switch 23, which isillustrated in detail in Fig. 3. The lamp 25 which corresponds to thelamp 19 (Fig. 1) and lamp 19a (Fig. 3) is thus adapted to be energizedby current from the battery 22, either upon the operation of the switch23 when the cover of the fuel tank is removed, or upon the operation ofthe switch 24 when the door of the automobile is opened by the operator.If desired, either one of the switches 23 or 24 may be eliminated. Aresistance 21 is also connected into circuit in certain cases where therated voltage of the lamp 25 is below the voltage of the automobilebattery 22.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, a modified form of cap for closing thefilling opening of the fuel tank is illustrated. This cap is providedwith a flange 35 corresponding to the flange 6 (Fig. 1). A catch 36 forengaging the wall of the tank just below the filler stem is positionedsubstantially within the body 33 of the cap. A spring 3'7 is providedbetween the body portion of the catch 36 and the bottom of the cap tomaintain the catch in normal position.

In practice, the cap is used in fuel tanks that are normally providedwith threaded caps that must be screwed into place. The section 34 andthe flange 35 are formed to encircle the outer surface of the fillerstem of the fuel tank in such -a way that the flange 35 engages theswitch can 17 (Fig; 1) when the tank opening is closed. To remove thecap from the filler stem the pin 38, which is pivotally attached to thebody of member 36, is pressed inwardly against the force exerted by thespring 37, until the outer portion of member 36 is caused to be flushwith the outer surface of the cap body 33. The cap may then bewithdrawn.

From the foregoing specification and the accompanying drawings it willbe observed that I have set forth my invention in considerable detail.However, I do not desire that the invention be limited to those exactdetails except in so far as they are defined by the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. In illumination apparatus the combination of an incandescent lamppositioned inside of a tank, a tubular member positioned in said tank,means for supporting said lamp upon a wall of said tank for transmittinglight through said tubular member, a scale on a section of said tubularmember arranged to be illuminated by light from said lamp, a switch forcontrolling the operation of said lamp and means for operating saidswitch when said tank is opened.

2. In illumination apparatus the combination of an incandescent lamppositioned within a tank, a closure for said tank, means for supportingsaid lamp upon a wall of said tank, said means including a tubularmember, a scale on said tubular member arranged to be illuminated bysaid lamp, a switch for controlling the operation of said lamp, andmechanical-means cooperating with said closure of said tank foroperating said switch when said closure is opened.

3. In illumination apparatus for indicating the volume of the contentsof a tank the combination of a transparent member positioned within thetank, a scale supported in said tank parallel to said transparentmember, an incandescent lamp arranged to transmit light rays throughsaid transparent member for illuminating said scale, and a switchconnected to control the operation of said lamp.

4. In illumination apparatus for indicating the volume of the contentsof a tank the combination of an elongated transparent member positionedwithin the tank, a scale supported in said tank,

an incandescent lamp supported to transmit light rays longitudinallythrough said transparent member for illuminating said scale inside ofsaid tank and a switch connected to control the operation of said lamp.

5. In illumination apparatus for indicating the volume of the contentsof a tank the combination of a metal tube positioned in the tank, saidtube having a longitudinally extending section thereof extrudedtherefrom, said extruded section having a scale thereon, a transparentmember positioned within said metal tube, and a lamp supported totransmit light rays through said transparent member to illuminate thescale on said extruded section.

6. In illumination apparatus for indicating the volume of the contentsof a tank the combination of a metal tube positioned in the tank, saidtube having a section thereof extruded therefrom, said extruded sectionhaving a volume indicating scale thereon, a transparent memberpositioned within said metal tube, and a lamp supported in saidtransparent member for illuminating said scale.

'7. In illuminated tank scales the combination of a metal tube supportedin the tank, said tube having a volume indicating scale thereon, atransparent member in said tube, and a lamp for transmitting light raysthrough said transparent member for illuminating said scale.

. RICHARD HIPP, JR.

